Q

Are contingency fees a good idea?

A

YES. They work well for both the lawyer and the client. Here are some reasons:

Contingency fees help those who have been injured. They give everyone -- regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, general, marital status, age, or other factors -- an equal chance to have their case heard in court, no matter if they are rich or poor. People with limited financial resources can sue the richest, most powerful corporations, that often have unlimited money for legal defense fees.

Contingency fees discourage frivolous lawsuits. After all, why would a lawyer take on a frivolous case if she knew there was a high likelihood that she would lose? Contingency fees motivate lawyers to carefully evaluate whether the cases they accept are legitimate and have merit.

Contingency fees are fair to the client since there is no fee paid unless she wins.